turnbuckle*
Guest
I'm starting to wonder (well, I've been truthfully wondering for awhile) If Latendresse doesn't turn out to be this year's Evseev, someone rated as a top three pick the year before his draft, dropped significantly on every list except Red Line reports as scouts more thoroughly studied his game, still hyped by many at HF boards despite the alarm bells, only to drop out of the first round completely.
McKeen's had Latendresse rated 3rd overall in November - he is not even in their top 15 any more.
ISS doesn't have him in their top 15
CSS has him ranked to go in the third or fourth round
Bob McKenzie suggests that he'll probably get picked between 20-30.
My own scouting contacts have told me straight up that they would not draft Latendresse in the first round, and it's for a very good reason - they don't like his skating; in fact they were highly critical of it. One went so far as to tell me that he's "the worst skater I've ever seen".
Yet it seems like at least every second list someone makes on this board sees Latendresse cracking the top 15, if not the top 10.
Apparently a couple of teams like him much more than just about everyone else. There's also a good chance there are other players those teams like who will be available when they pick that they weren't expecting. Let's say the Rangers like Latendrese as the 12th overall prospect, but when their pick comes Parent is available and he's their 11th rated prospect. They will likely pick Parent.
Anyway, with the new rule changes supposedly going to reward speedy skaters, I would not be shocked to see Latendresse drop into the later stages of the second round. All it takes is liking one other prospect a little better to pass on him.
McKeen's had Latendresse rated 3rd overall in November - he is not even in their top 15 any more.
ISS doesn't have him in their top 15
CSS has him ranked to go in the third or fourth round
Bob McKenzie suggests that he'll probably get picked between 20-30.
My own scouting contacts have told me straight up that they would not draft Latendresse in the first round, and it's for a very good reason - they don't like his skating; in fact they were highly critical of it. One went so far as to tell me that he's "the worst skater I've ever seen".
Yet it seems like at least every second list someone makes on this board sees Latendresse cracking the top 15, if not the top 10.
Apparently a couple of teams like him much more than just about everyone else. There's also a good chance there are other players those teams like who will be available when they pick that they weren't expecting. Let's say the Rangers like Latendrese as the 12th overall prospect, but when their pick comes Parent is available and he's their 11th rated prospect. They will likely pick Parent.
Anyway, with the new rule changes supposedly going to reward speedy skaters, I would not be shocked to see Latendresse drop into the later stages of the second round. All it takes is liking one other prospect a little better to pass on him.